Hours after Congress reaches out to Hardik Patel, 2 Patidar leaders join BJP

In a blow to Hardik Patel, Patidar leaders Reshma Patel and Varun Patel join BJP. Both the leaders met BJP President Amit Shah at the BJP office in Ahmedabad.

The news will also come as a blow to the Congress,  as it had spoken of approaching Hardik Patel to join their cause in defeating the BJP in the upcoming elections. 

Addressing a press conference here today, state Congress chief Bharatsinh Solanki expressed confidence that the party would easily win over 125 seats, out of total 182, with the "support and blessings" of all these leaders and parties.

"Though the BJP is trying its best to win the polls, it will not succeed in stopping the Congress' victory march to Gandhinagar.

"We respect as well as endorse the cause for which Hardik Patel is fighting. I appeal to Hardik to support the Congress during the polls. We are also ready to give him a ticket if he wants to fight elections in the future," Solanki told reporters.

However, speaking to ANI, Patel said that he could not contest elections because of his age, but agreed with Congress to unite against the saffron party in the elections.

He said, “Constitutionally speaking, I can not contest the election and I don’t need to. Although, I believe we must unite against the BJP, this is not a BJP-Congress election. This is an election of six crore people of Gujarat.”